Embarrassment has not been a hallmark of the New England Patriots during coach Bill Belichick's 10-year tenure. But it was hard for the Patriots to feel any other emotion after a 33-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in last season's wild-card round. Nose tackle Vince Wilfork said the Patriots "just laid down" as the Ravens rushed for 234 yards to claim the first postseason victory by a visiting team in New England since 1978.

What a difference nine weeks and the presence of a healthy Wes Welker made for quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Welker caught a career-best 15 passes for 192 yards in Sunday's 31-14 demolition of the once-promising New York Jets at Gillette Stadium that underscored AFC East rivals headed in opposite directions.

For the New England Patriots, it might be easy to say they got robbed last season. But that's not the Patriots' way, linebacker Tedy Bruschi says. Forget that they became the first team in 23 years to win 11 games and not earn a playoff spot. Forget that at the end of 2008 they had nothing to show for rallying behind previously untested quarterback Matt Cassel after losing reigning NFL MVP Tom Brady to a season-ending knee injury in the opener. That's all in the past.

There is perhaps no surer sign that Super Bowl week is upon us, than a story about a long snapper. So why write about a guy who's anonymous even in the low-profile world of special-teams players? Well, while New England's Lonie Paxton did not start one of the 125 NFL games he's played in, the eighth-year specialist out of Sacramento State does have three Super Bowl rings to his credit.

The question had hung above the New England Patriots through much of their perfect 16-0 regular season. What would happen if an opponent took away record-setting wide receiver Randy Moss and the constant home-run threat he represents?